Movie's ratings

    5180 4820

    Taeksi woonjunsa 8

    " May 1980: A taxi driver heads to Gwangju"
    Country
    Spoken Language
    Runtime 2 hr 17 min
    Budget $13 000 000
    Premiere: World $86 252 940 August 2, 2017
    USA $1 527 829
    Other countries $84 725 111
    Box Office – Budget $73 252 940
    Premiere: USA $1 527 829 August 11, 2017
    theaters 41
    rollout 143 days
    Digital: World November 6, 2017
    Parental Advisory
    • Frightening & Intense Scenes

      average

    • Violence & Gore

      average

    • Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking

      few

    • Profanity

      few

    Production Companies The Lamp

    Description

    A widowed father and taxi driver who drives a German reporter from Seoul to Gwangju to cover the 1980 uprising, soon finds himself regretting his decision after being caught in the violence around him.

    Сast and Crew

    The Real Story Behind the Film "A Taxi Driver" (2017)

    Background

    The film "A Taxi Driver" is based on the true events surrounding the Gwangju Uprising in South Korea, which took place in May 1980. This was a pivotal moment in South Korean history, where citizens protested against the authoritarian government, demanding democracy and freedom.

    The Real Story

    The story centers around a German journalist, Jürgen Hinzpeter, and a South Korean taxi driver, Kim Sa-bok, who helped him document the uprising. Hinzpeter was one of the few foreign journalists who managed to enter Gwangju and report on the brutal suppression of the protests by the military.

    Key Figures

      • Jürgen Hinzpeter: A German journalist who risked his life to report on the Gwangju Uprising. His footage was crucial in bringing international attention to the events.

      • Kim Sa-bok: A taxi driver who, despite the risks, drove Hinzpeter to Gwangju and helped him navigate the city during the uprising.

    Historical Accuracy

    The film stays largely true to the real events, capturing the tension and danger of the situation. While some artistic liberties were taken for dramatic effect, the core story of the collaboration between the journalist and the taxi driver remains faithful to history.

    Impact

    The Gwangju Uprising is now seen as a significant event in the struggle for democracy in South Korea. The bravery of individuals like Hinzpeter and Kim Sa-bok is celebrated for their role in exposing the truth to the world.

    Production

    Filming began on June 5, 2016, and ended on October 24, 2016.

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    Jang Hoon — Top Rated Movies

    Critique: 6

    83%
    5 1
    Los Angeles Times August 10, 2017

    An effective – and affecting – fact-based political drama set against the bloody backdrop of South Korea’s 1980 Guangju D...

    RogerEbert.com August 11, 2017

    Song’s performance makes me wish the rest of A Taxi Driver was as thoughtful.

    Arizona Republic August 11, 2017

    While a bit ponderous and overlong, it is a heartfelt appreciation of ordinary people turned heroes in extraordinary circumstances.

    Hollywood Reporter August 13, 2017

    A richly imagined tribute to a working-class hero.

    New York Times August 10, 2017

    An affecting what-if tale.

    Variety August 16, 2017

    An entertaining journey into a tragic and violent chapter of Korean modern history.

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    Quotes

    I just drive where my passengers tell me to go.

    A taxi driver should know the roads.

    I have to get back to my daughter.

    The world should know what happened here.

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    Watched

    This is a truly inspiring journey film. Taking the viewer into a terrible and cruel chapter of modern Korean history.

    Translated to English

    Watched

    A real story about real heroes caught up in difficult events. A story that deserves to be told, about people who were not afraid to show what was happening in the 80s in Korea.

    Translated to English

    Watched

    Korean anti-communist chaos through the eyes of a German reporter and gradually a brave taxi driver

    Translated to English

    The story is about a simple taxi driver who finds himself in a city where there are mass unrest in the form of demonstrations, and the authorities suppress them as harshly as possible. A true story that needs to be told. In twenty years they will film something like this about Belarus and about us too.

    Translated to English

    Watched

    Weird feeling from the movie. Dialogues, gestures, actions – everything is somehow childish … but maybe Asians, in principle, are such … shock events. South Korea is one of the most successful countries in Asia. They succeeded, maybe we and the Belarusians will someday succeed … maybe

    Translated to English

    Watched

    Based on real events. Protests in the city of Gwangju (South Korea) took place from May 18 to May 27, 1980, brutally suppressed by government forces.

    Translated to English

    Watched

    The average person finds himself face to face with the Truth, to which he diligently closed his eyes, because it didn’t seem to concern him in any way. And suddenly he becomes, no, not a hero. Just a good person, ready to do anything for the sake of the truth. It seems to be about Korea, but as if about us .Powerful and relevant.

    Translated to English

    Watched

    The only thing that pleases in Korean cinema is the face of actor Song Kang-ho, behind whose puffy cheeks a simple local viewer – in the age of the sickening gloss of local boy bands with drama actors – is looking for the close truth of life.

    Translated to English